Eid and Our children

The great day of Eid is also one of those significant events that bring happiness and delight for the Muslims. The blessed day of Eid is celebrated with great excitement and fervour by the Muslims living around the globe and they experience the feelings of ecstasy when this blessed day arrives. People from every class and section enormously enjoy this religious festival.

Dear parents! Following are some of your responsibilities for your children in connection with the blessed occasion of happiness:

Sadaqah Fitr

A father should pay Sadaqah Fitr of his children (before Eid Salah if possible). Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُمَا narrated, ‘The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has commanded us to pay Sadaqah Fitr on Eid-ul-Fitr before Eid Salah.’ (Sunan-ut-Tirmizi, vol. 2, pp. 152, Hadees 677)

(For detail information regarding Sadaqah Fitr, read ‘Blessings of Ramadan’, a publication of Maktaba-tul-Madinah.)

Eid Salah

If Eid Salah is being performed in a Masjid, take such sane Madani children with you for performing Eid Salah who know the etiquettes of Masjid and remain cautious about them; moreover, also make them give Sadaqah persuading them so that they also become habitual of giving Sadaqah in the path of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and their hearts become less interested in wealth and worldly pleasure.

Heedlessness on the day of Eid

Develop this awareness amongst children that whether it is the blessed day of Eid or any other religious event or festival, they should not engross themselves into worldly pleasure to such an extent that they forget to perform Fard and Wajib acts and do not distinguish between Halal and Haraam acts and spend these blessed days of Eid in heedlessness doing the acts of disobedience.

Habit of taunting

While comparing the stuff such as clothes, shoes, wrist watches, etc., with others, children taunt and make fun of them, this is not a good practice, so prevent your children from passing bad comments and criticising other children [for their clothes, etc.].

Demand of Eidi

Gift of cash given to the children on Eid days increases the happiness of children but some children are observed to demand Eidi (gift or cash given to children during Eid) from their relatives, causing embarrassment for others. Ethically, this practice is not good at all because someone may not have money for Eidi and he may have to make an excuse or tell a lie to manage the situation. So, make your children understand that if somebody gives them Eidi, it is alright but demanding it from others is not a good practice at all.

Taking possession of children’s Eidi

Some parents take possession of the Eidi of their children and comment like this, ‘We also have to give Eidi to the children of others’. This practice may sow the seed of hatred in your children’s hearts. Furthermore, it is not permissible for the parents to use the things without Shar’i permission which are purely owned by the children.

Eid and harmful food items

On the day of Eid, a large amount of poor-quality and harmful junk food items for example ‘Aloo Chaat’ (spicy mixed fried potatoes), Kulfi (frozen dairy dessert), chips, Gola-Ganda (colourful snow-cones) and other items are easily available in the streets and at every corner; so keep your children away from unhygienic and harmful food items.

Eid and toys

During Eid days, mischievous children are found playing with pistol in which small metal balls are used and these children shoot one another with them, causing quarrels and conflicts on the religious festival. Furthermore, sometimes children also lose their eyes due to such risky games; so keep your children away from such type of toys.

Playing on swings and horse-riding

On the blessed day of Eid, children love to enjoy swings, horse-riding, camel-riding, etc., but these activities of enjoyment may cause any accident so choose any appropriate swing for your children.

May Allah Almighty grant us, our children and all the Muslims Taufeeq (ability) to celebrate Eid obeying Shari’ah.

اٰمِيۡن   بِجَاهِ   النَّبِيِّ  الۡاَمِيۡن   صَلَّى  اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى  عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

12-year-old Jamal was also amongst those who were waiting for the great day of Eid which was going to be celebrated after the blessed month of Ramadan but he did not as yet finish the preparation for Eid and it was 25^th of Ramadan.

Jamal: “Dear Mother! My friends have completed their Eid shopping and now they are showing their beautiful Eid stuff to one another such as new garments, shoes and wrist watches; on the other hand, I have just one new dress, so, when will you buy me other things?”

Mother: “Dear son! Our financial position is not good enough these days that we can buy you a lot of garments and other things.”

Jamal: “It will bring disgrace on me in front of my friends", saying this he went to the other room with the feelings of resentment.

When Jamal’s father came back home at the time of Iftar, Jamal’s mother told him about the desire of their son.

Having performed Maghrib Salah, when Jamal and his father were coming back home, Jamal’s father said to his son: “Let me relate you a true story today.”

Jamal happily responded: “About whom is this true story?”

Jamal’s father: It is related to the blessed daughters of the great Caliph of Muslims, ‘Sayyiduna ‘Umar Bin ‘Abdul ‘Azeez رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه’. Once the day of Eid approached and the blessed daughters of Sayyiduna ‘Umar Bin ‘Abdul ‘Azeez رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه came in the court of their father and humbly said, ‘Dear father! Which clothes will we wear on the blessed day of Eid.’ He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said, ‘Same clothes in which you are dressed now; wash them and wear them again on the Eid day.’

The blessed daughters insisted on buying new clothes and said, ‘Dear father! No! Buy us new clothes.’ He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said, ‘My dear daughters! The blessed day of Eid is the day of worshipping Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and the day of expressing gratitude to Him. It is not necessary to wear new clothes.’

Jamal: “So what did these blessed daughters say?”

Father: They said, ‘Dear father! No doubt, you are absolutely right but our friends will tease us saying, ‘You are the daughters of the Khalifah of this time and wearing the same old clothes’.’ Eyes of the blessed daughters were filled with tears while talking, and Sayyiduna ‘Umar Bin ‘Abdul ‘Azeez رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه also felt like crying.

Jamal: “Then Sayyiduna ‘Umar Bin ‘Abdul ‘Azeez رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would have bought them new clothes.”

Father: Sayyiduna ‘Umar Bin ‘Abdul ‘Azeez رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه called the treasurer and asked for one-month advance salary. To which he humbly said, ’O Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen! Are you sure that you will stay alive for one month?’ Sayyiduna ‘Umar Bin ‘Abdul ‘Azeez رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه replied, ‘May Allah Almighty grant you blessings, you have said an excellent and correct thing indeed.’ The treasurer left after this.

Jamal: “So, what did Sayyiduna ‘Umar Bin ‘Abdul ‘Azeez رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه say to his blessed daughters?”

Father: While advising them about having patience, he رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said, ‘O dear daughters! Sacrifice your desires for the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and His Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.’ (‘Umar Bin ‘Abdul ‘Azeez ki 425 Hikayaat, pp. 187)

Jamal: “Dear father! Friends of the daughters of Sayyiduna ‘Umar Bin ‘Abdul ‘Azeez رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would have teased them.”

Father: “Dear son Jamal! Those people who try to please Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ do not care about the criticism and taunts of others; furthermore, we learn from such types of parables of the righteous people that we should show thankfulness for what we have been blessed with and spend our lives carrying out the acts that please Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.”

Jamal: “Yes, dear father! This true story has opened my eyes. Now I will not insist on buying more things and will carry out the acts that please Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ on the blessed day of Eid, اِنْ شَـآءَ اللّٰە.”

Heart will remain alive

The Beloved and Blessed Nabi صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said, ‘Whoever performed Qiyam in the nights of Eid (Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha) in order to earn reward, his heart will not die on the day when hearts (of people) will die.’ (Sunan Ibn Majah, vol. 2, pp. 365, Hadees 1782)

Entry into heaven becomes Wajib

Sayyiduna Mu’aaz Bin Jabal رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ has narrated: Heaven becomes Wajib for the person who stays awake in the following five nights [while worshipping Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ]: The nights of the 8^th, 9^th and 10^th Zul-Hijjah (3 nights), the night of Eid-ul-Fitr and the 15^th night of Sha’ban (Shab-e-Bara`at). (Attargheeb Wattarheeb, vol. 2, pp. 98, Hadees 2)

Forgiveness and blessings

Dear Islamic brothers! Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has bestowed upon us a great bounty in the form of Eid-ul-Fitr immediately after Ramadan. This blessed Eid has many virtues. Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُمَا has narrated: The blessed night of Eid-ul-Fitr is referred to as the ‘Layla-tul-Ja`izah’, the ‘Night of Reward.’ On the morning of Eid, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ sends His angels to every city where they stand at the end of every street and call out, ‘O Ummah of Muhammad صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! Come to the court of Munificent Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ Who grants in abundance and forgives even the most severe sin.’

Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ then says to His bondmen, ‘O My bondmen! Ask for whatever you want! I swear by My Honour and Glory! I will grant whatever you ask for about your Hereafter in this gathering (of the Eid-Salah) today. And whatever you ask for regarding the world; I will see your betterment (i.e. I will do what is best for you). I swear by My honour! I will conceal your mistakes as long as you abide by my commandments. I swear by My Honour, I will not cause you to be disgraced along with those exceeding the limit; so return to your homes, forgiven. You have pleased Me and I am pleased with you.’ (Attargheeb Wattarheeb, vol. 2, pp. 60, Hadees 23)

Night of receiving Eid gift

Dear Islamic brothers! How important the night and the day of Eid-ul-Fitr are! According to the above blessed Hadees, the night of Eid-ul-Fitr is also called ‘Layla-tul-Ja`izah’ [لَیْلَةُ الْجَائِزَہ], or the ‘Night of Reward’ in which the pious are given rewards. In other words, they are given their ‘Eid Gift.’ Similarly, the day of Eid-ul-Fitr is the day of Divine mercy. Therefore, we should spend this great night and day, worshipping Allah Almighty and gaining these blessings.

No doubt Muslims keep Siyam, offer Salahs, recite the Holy Quran and perform other virtuous deeds, but very sorry to say, as soon as Ramadan ends, some of them indulge in useless and even sinful actions such as watching films and dramas, attending musical concerts, etc. Remember! These actions may bring about the displeasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and destroy the spiritual peace we gain during the month of Ramadan. Therefore, make the following intention from the bottom of the heart, “We will spend the night and the day of Eid, worshipping Almighty Allah and refraining from every sin, اِنْ شَـآءَ اللّٰە.”

Thousand Noor enter grave

According to a narration, whoever recites ‘سُبْحٰنَ اللّٰەِ وَبِحَمْدِهٖ’ 300 times on the day of Eid and then convey its reward to the souls of all the deceased Muslims, so a thousand Noor will enter the grave of every Muslim. Furthermore, when the reciting person dies, a thousand Noor will enter his grave as well. (This can be recited on both Eids). (Mukashafa-tul-Quloob, pp. 308)